Tragedy in Arizona

Tragedy in Arizona

SEMI wishes to express our deepest condolences to the victims, families, and loved ones of the January 8 shootings outside of Tucson, Arizona. As many are now aware, U.S. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was among of the victims of this crime as she gathered to meet with her constituents to talk about their concerns and answer their questions.

Since being elected to Congress in 2006, Rep. Giffords has been a tremendous champion of many SEMI’s most important issues. She has been the leading champion for solar policy in Congress from her seat on the Committee on Science. In fact, she was the keynote speaker at the 2009 PV Lobby Day that SEMI hosted in Washington, DC. In addition to fighting for good solar policy such as a Renewable Energy Standard, expanding the Manufacturing Tax Credit for advanced energy, extending the Treasury Grant Program for renewable energy projects, she sponsored of the Solar Technology Road Map Act, which would increase funding for solar research and development as well as create committee at the Department of Energy to coordinate a road map from future solar R&D.

Beyond solar, Rep. Giffords has worked in supporting the America Innovation agenda with her work on the Science Committee. This includes her support of increased funding for basic science R&D as well as increased funding for educating students in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields in the America COMPETES Act. Rep. Giffords has also been supportive of high-skills immigration reform.

SEMI members have regularly met with Rep. Giffords and her staff in recent years as part of its annual Washington Forum, which brings industry executives to Washington to meet with policymakers. Since she was elected, the SEMI Political Alliance (SEMI PAC) has contributed $5000 to her campaign, with the PAC board recently renewing her place on their list of SEMI PAC supported candidates.

Please keep Congresswoman Giffords and all of the other victims in your thoughts as they fight to recover from this horrific event, and remember those victims who tragically lost their lives.